October 2018 Top 3 Manga Releases

It’s October, my favorite month of the year! Aside from celebrating my birthday, I always look forward to all the Halloween goodness that comes around this season. Let’s take a look at all the manga treats coming out this month!

Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection

From the publisher: Junji Ito meets Mary Shelley! The master of horror manga bends all his skill into bringing the anguished and solitary monster—and the fouler beast who created him—to life with the brilliantly detailed chiaroscuro he is known for. Also included are six tales of Oshikiri—a high school student who lives in a decaying mansion connected to a haunted parallel world. Uncanny doppelgangers, unfortunately murdered friends, and a whole lot more are in store for him. Bonus: The Ito family dog! Thrill to the adventures of Non-non Ito, an adorable Maltese!

The manga king of horror is back again, this time in a new collection by Viz Media. Junji Ito fanatics will definitely have to pick this up. The Frankenstein collection includes Ito’s adaptation of the titular science fiction classic, as well as his original scary shorts, Oshikiri. If Frankenstein and Oshikiri creep you out, take a break with the bonus story about Ito’s pet dog.

Versailles of the Dead, Vol. 1

From the publisher: While en route to marry Louis XVI and become the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette’s carriage is intercepted by bloodthirsty zombies. The sole survivor of the attack is Marie’s twin brother, Albert. He heads for Versailles in his sister’s gown–and instead of continuing life as himself, decides to take his sister’s place. Now at the heart of the French royal court, Albert must face the undead horrors as the man who would be queen.

From the mangaka behind Afterschool Charisma and Blood+ comes a twisted take on the French Revolution. To be honest, I know next to nothing about this manga, but my fascination with 18th century fiction (no matter how zombified) makes it a must-read for me. Plus, take a look at that cover art. Gorgeous.

Zo Zo Zombie, Vol. 1

From the publisher: Zombie boy isn’t your average kid, and while being a zombie might not at first seem like an ideal lifestyle, you’d be amazed by what this little guy is capable of. A laugh-out-loud comedy sure to have boys and girls alike rocking in their chairs!

Finally, we have a spooky manga for kids! Zo Zo Zombie is a gag manga about a cute zombie boy and his zany adventures with his human friends. This title is launching under Yen Press’ new JY youth graphic novel imprint.

BONUS PICK!

Berserk Official Guidebook

From the publisher: Berserk has conquered the worlds of manga and anime, and now comes the essential roadmap to the sprawling Berserk universe, exploring the characters, creatures, settings, and stories of Berserk’s first 38 volumes. Profusely illustrated and including never-before-seen art (including an eight-page color section) and author notes by Kentaro Miura, the Official Guidebook is a comprehensive tour through the epic adventure, shocking horror, and graveyard humor that can be only Berserk!

Sure, this book’s not necessarily a manga, but it’s still something I’ve been looking forward to reading. There’s a lot of great things going on in the Berserk Official Guidebook, including a special interview with Kentaro Miura. Did you know he was inspired by the Rose of Versailles? You can learn all about that and more in this cool book. Definitely a must-buy for fans.

For nearly thirteen years, Alana has been an avid fan of Japanese visual culture, stemming from the days she watched Cyborg 009 after school. Now, she’s committed to teaching others all about manga and its impact on society, both domestic and abroad. To fuel her reading habits, Alana works as a full-time digital content writer. When she’s not tracking down the latest retro manga releases, she’s probably chilling with her three pet frogs.